from author and historian Jim Ignasher
Charlestown, Rhode Island – August 30, 1949
F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo
On August 30, 1949, a navy F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 121560), was making practice touch-and-go landings at the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field. During the training exercise, the right landing gear collapsed upon touchdown, and the right wing, belly, and fuselage were damaged, but the pilot was not hurt.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated August 30, 1949.
Charlestown, Rhode Island – September 22, 1944
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
On the afternoon of September 22, 1944, a navy F6F-3 Hellcat fighter, (Bu. No. 26052), was taking off from the Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field when the engine suddenly lost all power just after the plane became airborne. The aircraft fell back to the runway and the fuselage broke in half, but there was no fire. The pilot suffered serious injuries and the aircraft was a total loss.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated September 22, 1944.
Charlestown, Rhode Island – March 3, 1943
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
On March 3, 1943, a Douglass SBD-4 Dauntless, (Bu. No. 10448), was taking off from the Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field when the engine lost power and the aircraft crashed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, but the crew was not injured.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated March 3, 1943.
Charlestown, Rhode Island – May 27, 1947
F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo
On May 27, 1947, an U. S. Navy F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 95341), made a normal landing on Runway 30 at the Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Airfield. Upon touching down, there was a problem with the brakes, and the aircraft nosed over and flipped on its back before sliding to a stop. The aircraft sustained significant damage and the pilot received non-life-threatening injuries.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated May 27, 1947
Charlestown, Rhode Island – October 2, 1944
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
On the night of October 2, 1944, an F6f-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 70998), was coming in to land at the Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field after a training flight when the pilot got vertigo and misjudged the altitude and distance to the runway. The aircraft crashed a half-mile short of the runway and was damaged beyond all repair. The pilot survived.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated October 2, 1944.
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